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Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Buddy’s Home Furnishings offers a proven rent-to-own model, strong ROI, low royalties and multi-unit potential in a growing industry.
Buddy's Home Furnishings is a leading rent-to-own franchise in the United States. The brand provides customers with a flexible model for acquiring essential home products, including furniture, electronics, appliances and accessories.
Buddy’s Home Furnishings was founded in 1961 and has grown into one of the largest rent-to-own franchises in the U.S., offering a wide range of home essentials including furniture, electronics, appliances and accessories. The brand is led by Michael Bennett, who brings decades of experience in the rent-to-own space.
Mission: To provide customers with affordable access to quality home products through a flexible rent-to-own model that respects their financial needs.
Vision: To be the nation’s most trusted name in rent-to-own by offering an unmatched customer experience and supporting franchisees with industry-best tools, systems and a strong community.
Buddy’s is offering franchise opportunities across the U.S., with territories currently available in all states except California, Hawaii, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment to open a Buddy’s Home Furnishings franchise ranges from $375,650 to $797,540. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $39,900 | $39,900 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $2,000 | $109,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment | $12,000 | $25,000 |
| Computer System | $3,150 | $3,750 |
| Signs | $500 | $2,580 |
| Rent (3 Months) | $6,600 | $39,627 |
| Security Deposits for Lease & Utilities | $7,500 | $21,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $192,000 | $398,683 |
| Insurance | $4,000 | $9,000 |
| Training Expenses | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising/Marketing | $10,000 | $25,000 |
| Professional Fees, Business Licenses & Permits | $1,000 | $10,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $95,000 | $110,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: Buddy’s Home Furnishings charges a $39,900 initial franchise fee for a single retail location. Franchisees who commit to developing multiple locations through a development agreement receive a reduced franchise fee of $25,000 for the second and each additional store. The fee is paid in a lump sum when the franchise agreement is signed and is nonrefundable.
The brand also offers a 20% discount on the initial franchise fee for qualified military veterans and a 10% discount for eligible first responders on their first location.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Buddy’s franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees.
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of gross sales/week |
| Marketing Fee | $175/week |
| Tech Fee | $1,050/month |
| Signage Lease Fee | $25 - $115/week for first 5 years $1/week for the rest of the term of the signage lease agreement |
ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the 284 Buddy’s Home Furnishings franchise locations operational for the entirety of FY 2025 reported the following gross sales:
| Quartile | Rental Revenue (Average) | Other Revenue (Average) | Gross Sales |
| Top Quartile (71) | $1,096,900 | $46,189 | $1,143,089 |
| Second Quartile (71) | $729,025 | $32,777 | $761,803 |
| Third Quartile (71) | $568,233 | $26,227 | $594,461 |
| Bottom Quartile (71) | $401,960 | $23,792 | $425,752 |
| Total (284) | $699,030 | $32,246 | $731,276 |
Franchisees receive a comprehensive onboarding program, including access to the Buddy’s Playbook — a detailed manual with best practices and systems for store operations. Training includes classroom, on-site and virtual formats covering sales, product knowledge, store management and customer service.
Operational Support
Technology and Tools
The ideal candidate is an independent rent-to-own retailer who’s ready to convert, expand or sell.
Buddy’s expects franchisees to be hands-on operators or to hire experienced managers. Semi-absentee ownership is possible with appropriate management infrastructure.
Buddy’s partners with BoeFly for financing solutions, including SBA loans. They also offer both in-house and third-party financing guidance.
- Brian Landau, Franchisee — Miami, Florida
- Patrick Ruland, Franchisee — Mobile, Alabama
- Mark Zinn, Max Zinn and Andrea Foley, Franchisees — Fort Lauderdale, Florida
For more franchisee testimonials and success stories, visit the Buddy’s franchise website.
The rent-to-own industry is a $12.2 billion market that has consistently grown for decades, proving resilient even during economic downturns. As consumer demand grows for flexible payment options and non-credit-dependent purchasing, Buddy’s is positioned to meet a permanent consumer need.
Key Drivers
Competitor Analysis
Buddy’s primary competitors include Rent-A-Center, Aaron’s and Premier Rental-Purchase. What sets Buddy’s apart is its 0% initial royalties, 60+ years of experience, localized marketing and strong leadership with franchise experience.
To get the process started, complete and submit this online form on Buddy’s franchise website.
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